THEFT OF CARGO

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11422, 19 January 1923, Page 7

THEFT OF CARGO

WATERSIDER SENT TO GAOL. “TOO MANY WARNINGS,” Gus Nelson, a waterside worker, appeared before Mr E. Page, S.M., at yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court. He was charged with the theft of a bottle of whisky valued at 15s, the property of the Federal Steam Navigation Company, Ltd. Another charge preferred against accused wa3 that of stealing 17 packets of soap, valued at 345, the properly of some person or persons unknown. ■Senior-Detective Lewis explained that the accused was a waterside worker and was employed on the s.s. Otarama. It would be remembered that two days ago a man was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment for stealing a bottle of whisky from a ship.. The whisky in question was taken from the same shipment. Interviewed by Detective Tricklebank tho acoused admitted taking the bottle of whisky. He also admitted taking 17 bars of soap valued at 34s from a ship in port. The accused could not remember what ship he took tho whisky from. “The accused,” said Senior-Detective Lewis, “has never previously been before the court for dishonesty.” Mr O. B. O’Donnell, appearing for the accuased, said that ho wished to differentiate between his olient’s case and that of the man who was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. That man had been placed in a position of trust by the complainant firm and his job was to see t.har, none ot the whisky was taken by tho wateraiders or seamen. His client was a married _ man with three children, whose wife was at the present time in a very poor state of health. A nominal fine or term lof probation was asked for.

The magistrate said that workers on ships had had too many warnings already. He would sentence the accused to one month’s imprisonment on each of the charges.